iPod and iPhone Repairs Nationwide!
Dropped or Damaged iPod or iPhone? We can help!
Anywhere Nationwide!
You don’t have to buy a new iPod just because Apple doesn’t cover the repair you need. We can repair your iPod, iPod Nano, iPod Mini, iPod Video and iPod Photo. Listed below are a few things that we can repair.
- Faceplate Replacement
- Battery Replacement
- Screen Replacement
- Headphone Jack Replacement
- Click Wheel Replacement
- Hard Drive Replacement
We accept iPods via drop offs to our shop or you can ship your ipod to us.
When shipping your iPod please ship to:
Mobile Computer Solutions
Attn: iPhone Dept
8690 Irongate Way
Mobile, Alabama 36695
Payments can be made via money order or Paypal.
Include the following on a sheet of paper:
- Full Name
- Telephone Number
- E-Mail Address
- iPod Model & Serial Number
- Description of problem you are having
We recommend insurance to cover any loss or damage during shipping (normally $2)
Why your computer is slow
Do you ever wonder why your computer seems to just drag on and on? Sometimes it starts out fast, but before long you are spending more time waiting than working on your computer. It’s supposed to make the things you do easier and faster, but when it is running slow it decreases productivity and wastes your valuable time. There are several things that factor into your computers speed (or lack thereof). Let’s discuss a few things you can do to speed up your computer.
Memory (RAM)
Memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) as it is formally named is probably the single biggest contributor to your computer’s speed. Without enough memory, your computer will be very slow to load and run programs, open documents or accomplish any of the numerous tasks that make your computer useful to you or your business. How much memory your computer actually needs is really dependent on what you use it for. A computer being used only for internet browsing will require much less memory than a computer being used for 3D Modeling. If you are on the lower end of this spectrum then you should make sure that you have no less than 2 Gigabytes of memory. If your computer is very old there is a good chance that your memory significantly lower that that.
Processor (CPU)
The CPU is considered to be the brain of your computer. It handles not only the data that you input into the computer, but all of the data for the software you have installed. Unlike RAM, it does not save data. It handles what is happening right now. Since your processor is involved in everything that happens, having a processor speed that is too low will in turn effect everything on your computer.
Hard Drive
There is more to a hard drive than just it’s storage capacity. Although it is important to get a hard drive with enough space to suit your needs, most computers come with large drives by default. Some important things to consider if you are buying a new computer or upgrading your existing drive are interface, drive speed (measured in RPMs), seek speed (measured in milliseconds) and buffer. We will discuss each of these in a little more detail.
- Drive Speed
This is the hard drives rotational speed. The faster the disk spins, the faster data can be read and written. Most current internal disks run around the 7200 RPM mark, but disks that run at 10,000 RPMs can be purchased if you are willing to pay the price. These are usually more appropriate for the enthusiast - Interface
Most new hard drives have a SATA interface, but some newer and most older have a PATA interface. The difference between the two can be seen in the image below. There are other diferences other than the obvious appearance. SATA has a data transfer rate significantly faster than PATA. What does this mean? It means that you can read, write and transfer files to and from a SATA hard drive much faster than a PATA drive. IF your computer can support it, you should always go with a SATA drive. - Seek Speed
This is not much of a factor for most poeple, however it can become important if you have a very large drive as these tend to have longer seek times.
- Buffer
When your system tells the hard drive to fetch data, the buffer will store information that might help the drive find and read the data faster. This helps to keep data flowing at a higher rate.
Clutter
This is a very large contributor to slow computer speeds. Don’t worry though, It’s also the easiest to remedy. So, what is clutter and how does it happen? I like to compare it to your own home. In the process of living in your home you generate clutter. Whether it is dust, dirt, trash from the kitchen or just things that you no longer need. Sometimes you have to clean the house and take out the trash. If you don’t, well, it’s not a pretty sight. This is not much different from your computer. A little preventative maintenance will keep your computer free from file clutter and running smoothly. Lets talk about a few of the things that we recommend
- Defragmenting
As you read and write files to a hard drive they are not always stored together. This is especially true when saving and moving large files. Large files tend to be stored in multiple areas on the disk. If these files get too fragmented it can significantly slow down the speed at which your drive is able to read and write data. Defragmenting is a fairly easy process. The only thing that is required is that you have some free space on your hard drive. - Delete temporary files
These files accumulate over time. Not only do they slow down your computer, but they waste away your valuable disk space. Cleaning them out on a regular basis keeps your system clean and running smooth. - Uninstall unused programs
How many times have you installed something only to use it once and never touch it again? I know that this is quite common for me. Even unused software can still be running in the background and slowing your computer. Not only that, your hard drive space is being wasted. - Cleanup your registry
The registry is essentially a database that stores settings and options on Windows systems. Registry keys are generated when you install software and sometime left behind when uninstalling software. These orphaned keys begin to clutter your registry and can cause issues.
Nearly all of these tasks can be accomplished using CCleaner. We highly recommend using this program. It is proven to be safe and effective. Not only that, it’s completely free and very simple to use.
Startup Programs
You may not know it, but the programs that you install onto your computer are all greedy and selfish! You might be thinking “how can this be?”. Let me explain what I mean. When you are installing software you are normally presented with several options during the process such as where to install and what options etc. One of the things that a typical program will try to do is have itself start up whenever you boot into Windows. The problem with that is this. As you install more and more software, you end up with many different programs all trying to start when you start your computer. This results in an extremely slow and long boot process. In order to prevent all of these programs from starting at boot we recommend using CCleaner. It’s free and very simple to use. It will allow you to select what, if any, programs you would like to start with Windows.
Viruses
Just hearing this word is enough to make you want to scream. Viruses are so common these days that you can get one just about anywhere. Some common ways to pick up a virus are opening an infected file or e-mail, browsing an infected website, using portable storage that is infected and downloading files from an unknown source. There are many other ways, but those are some of the most common.
How to avoid infection? Well lets list some things you can do to prevent infections.
- Keep your computer and installed software updated
- Never open e-mails from an untrusted person and never open chain mail
- Do not download from P2P (peer to peer) programs such as limewire or bittorrent
- Be wary of browsing “questionable” websites
- Use a firewall, anti virus and malware protection.
We are an authorized reseller of AVG product, however there are free product out there that can provide you with some protection. We recommend AVG Free edtion as well as Malwarebytes. These are both proven to be effective at keeping your computer safe from infection. Remember, any free solution may not be sufficient to protect you against all threats.
If you are infected you may need to look up a local repair shop to have it cleaned completely. If you are in the Mobile, Alabama area then just give us a call!
This article was written by Bryan Singleton of Mobile Computer Solutions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments regarding this article.
How to escape from AOL
There was once a time when America Online was your only real option for internet access. Well, those times have long since past and AOL just isn’t making the cut these days. If you are still using their services then you might want to ask yourself why.
What’s wrong with AOL? Well, just about everything. Their service in general is far below what is available from numerous other providers. The software is bloated and uses large amounts of resources which in turn slows down your computer. Many customers have found themselves being double billed or billed more than what is owed and not able to recoup the lost funds. Others who have tried to cancel still find themselves being billed for months after. A quick google search will tell you just how widespread the problems with AOL are. There are even websites solely dedicated to making the downfalls of AOL public. All of this is unnecessary and completely avoidable. There are many other options available to you.
How do I leave? You can cancel online, but I would recommend calling them so that you can get confirmation from an actual person that your account has been cancelled. In addition, If you are paying automatically by debit card you should call your credit card company to cancel the recurring payments as AOL may not stop charging you right away. The number for AOL’s cancellation department is now listed on their website. The current number is 1-888-265-8008
What about my contacts? Here is a way to get them from AOL to a Gmail account.
- Sign into you gmail account.
- Go to “Settings”.
- Click “Accounts and Imports”
- Click “Import from another address”
- Next enter the e-mail address and password for you AOL account.
- Finally it will ask you what you want to import. After that you should have all of your data from the AOL account in your gmail account.
Congratulations! You no longer have to suffer the terrible service that is America Online.
11 Ways Computer Viruses are Spread
It is the worst nightmare of every computer user: you wake up one day and realize that you have a virus, and you don’t know quite how to get rid of it. Most people these days understand what a virus is and how harmful it can be, but they are still somewhat unsure how computer viruses spread. The truth is that there are dozens of different ways in which a virus can spread from computer to computer, but let’s take a look at the most frequent ways in which people run into viruses, spyware and Trojans on the Internet.
1. Email attachments. The world became familiar with the phenomena of email attachments carrying viruses thanks to Microsoft’s Outlook Express automatically opening every attachment to every email you received a few years back. Now that email clients no longer do this, the infection rate from email attachments is significantly lower, but it can still be a common problem. The golden rule is that if you don’t know what an attachment is, don’t open it. To this day, many email users never open attachments, no matter what. You don’t have to take such drastic steps to protect yourself, however; simply use common sense when opening attachments in your email.
2. Rogue Websites. It is depressing to know that you may become infected with spyware or a virus by doing nothing more than simply visiting a website, but it is true. Many adult websites, gambling websites and other less than trustworthy websites will attempt to automatically access your computer when you visit them. They often install adware bugs that will cause a flurry of pop ups to appear on your screen. This adware will often allow for other programs with even more nefarious purposes to be installed and before you know it, your computer will be swamped. To stop these rogue websites, adjust the settings on your antivirus software and firewall so that no outside connections can be made and no programs can be installed without your express permission.
3. Networks. If your computer is connected to a home network or if your work computer is part of a larger network, you may find yourself with an infection through no fault of your own. Someone else on the network downloaded a bug by accident, and within minutes, the entire network could be infected. There isn’t much you can do to stop these kinds of infections, short of having your network administrator ensure that everyone’s antivirus software is up to date so that the invading bug can be removed as quickly as possible.
4. Infected Boot disks. Now that hard drives are obscenely large, the overwhelming percentage of us don’t bother to use boot disks anymore, but a virus can still be spread if an infected disk is in your hard drive and you attempt to restart. When you start your computer, your machine will always check your drives to see if a disk with boot information is present. If one is, your computer will likely automatically attempt to boot from the disk and not from your drive. If a virus is present, it will often be activated and you will become infected. Always know the origin of any disk you put into your drive.
5. Phishing Schemes. Learning how computer viruses spread is important to keep yourself, and your personal information, safe online. Phishing schemes are one of the chief ways in which people end up with their identity stolen and a computer fill of viruses. A phishing scheme starts when you receive an email from a website claiming to be your bank or credit card company. You are asked to click a link and log in, but the truth is that you’ve just given away all of your personal information. Often times, when you visit these sites, spyware, adware and viruses are automatically installed on your computer (see Rogue Websites, above). Your lender or credit card will often send out a real notice that let’s you know that a phishing scheme is going around. The smartest thing you can do is to simply call your bank or credit card company if you receive an email saying there is a problem with your account instead of blindly following links in your email.
6. Infected Software. One of the great things about the Internet is how many free games and programs there are out there, but these free programs often come at a price. Too many rogue websites intentionally infect their freeware (like Kazaa) with trojan viruses so that you unknowingly infect your computer every time you download a free game or piece of software. The key here is to only download freeware or shareware from a trusted source like CNet that always ensures your safety.
7. Hackers. The Internet today is a much more law abiding place than it was ten years ago. Not only did most people not have antivirus protection and firewalls that could stop incoming attacks, most people didn’t even know what they were. Today, people understand the value of good online protection, but hackers can still pose a problem if you allow your protection software to lapse. The best way to beat hackers is to ensure that you have a firewall and up to date antivirus software.
8. Instant Messaging. It is difficult to find a computer in this day and age that doesn’t have at least one instant messaging service installed on it. Unfortunately, these programs are often targets of hackers who see an easy way to trick people into clicking links that lead them to rogue websites. Common sense can keep you out of trouble, however. Only chat with people you know and never follow links to sites that you don’t recognize. You should easily be able to keep Internet worms, viruses and other bugs at bay.
9. Fake Anti Virus Software. This is one of the most frustrating ways to become infected with a virus or worm. There are dozens of anti virus and anti spyware programs you can download for free on the Internet and a surprising number of them actually do exactly the opposite of what they claim. The product websites make outrageous claims that their product can protect you from a whole range of threats, when, in reality, their product will only make things a thousand times worse. Only download antivirus programs from trusted sites or from websites that you know are completely legit.
10. From Mobile Devices. A recent story in the newspaper should serve as a wake up call for anyone who is getting ready to plug in a mobile device into their computer for the first time. A family purchased a digital picture frame from a local store and when they attempted to install the software that came with it, they inadvertently infected their computer with a virus. There really is no way to stop such an infection from happening, since we all buy peripherals that work with our computer, but we can ensure that we have the tools ready to go if an infection should happen. Keep your anti virus software up to date at all times and you should be able to wrestle control back from any Internet bug.
11. Friends and Relatives. Often times, we are sent viruses through our email from people that we know and trust. The social networking site Facebook has had to battle this very problem when their serves get a bug and automatically send out emails to everyone on the system that are infected. Often times, these emails are extremely generic sounding and come with suspicious attachments, but people often open them anyway since they have come from a friend or from a site they trust, like Facebook. Remember, if you get an attachment with an .exe extension or a .dll, don’t ever open it.
Learning how computer viruses spread is the best way we can put an end to their reign of terror online. It is only with the right knowledge and the best antivirus software that Internet users everywhere can beat online bugs for good.
Ubuntu 9.1 Karmic Koala
I have been using various Linux flavors for several years now. My first was Red Hat 7.0 and since then I have used probably a dozen other distros. I’m currently dual booting Ubuntu 9.1 alongside of Windows XP. It has always been this way. No matter how much I have liked any specific distro I have never been able to completely escape Windows. The reasons weren’t always the same, but varied from lack of hardware support, Software needs to miscellaneous annoyances.
With this latest release of Ubuntu it seems that I may be able to finally make the shift to a 100% linux user. I am able to use Dreamweaver along with a few other important apps in Wine with no apparent problems. In addition to that I have also setup an installation of Windows XP in VirtualBox just in case I have a need for it.
The installation was extremely simple and straightforward. I followed through the prompts with no issues. Ubuntu even allows you to import files from another operating system if you chose not to overwrite it during the installation. Overall, It’s pretty solid. I would suggest that everyone pick up a copy of the live cd here and give it a shot. You can run the cd without installing anything. This way you can test all of your hardware with no risk of losing anything!
If you like it then you will have found a free, more stable, more secure and more customizable alternative to Windows. If not, then you haven’t lost anything besides the cost of the blank CD.
How to fix a shattered tablet PC screen
Having a bad day?
If you think you are having a bad day just think about how this person felt when he saw this.
There is good news and bad news. The good news is that not all is lost. There is a way to fix this without completely replacing the screen. The bad news is that it results in loss of the touch screen functionality. The glass that you now see shattered is covered by a sheet of plastic. It is this layer of plastic that allows the touch of a finger to be sent to the computer. This is the feature that sets it apart from a standard laptop.
As you can see, this laptop is not much use in it’s current condition. If you aren’t overly concerned with the touch screen option and you don’t want to dish out the money for a new screen then you’re in luck. With a few small screwdrivers and some patience you can return this laptop to…well…most of it’s former glory.
How did I do it? Pretty easily actually.
First thing was to remove the six screws holding the front screen cover in place. Then gently pulling it apart all the way around. Make sure you are mindful of the cables that plug into the plastic cover when pulling it off.
Next you have to remove the plastic covering. I did this by very gently separating it with a flat head screwdriver. I can emphasise the word “gently” enough. It won’t take much at all to crack or tear the plastic. That would be bad.
After you have the plastic covering removed, just set it aside for later. Now you have to remove all of the loose glass and pry the glass off of the edges. It will most likely still be secured by the adhesive. I did this with the same flat head screwdriver from earlier. You will most likely want to wear some sort of eye protection when you do this. As you pry the glass up it has a tendency to shatter. The last thing you want is a tiny glass shard in your eye. Again, that would be bad.
After you remove all of the glass, including the tiny little pieces that are stuck in the adhesive around the edge, you need to clean all of the surfaces to make sure there is no glass dust or shards. If anything is left behind it will cause scratches or possibly blood loss. Once you have it cleaned you can place the plastic layer back onto the screen. I used very small amounts of super glue to help in stay in place, but the old adhesive would have probably been sufficient.
Now you just have to replace the outer covering (don’t forget to plug in the cables) and secure it with all of the screws that you removed. If you have extra pieces then you missed something.
Smileys and Icons for iPhone texting!
As an iPhone owner, I am always looking for the next best apps. If you are a big text messager then you will definitely wonder how you ever lived without this one. Simply follow th instruction below and you will soon have access to tons of smileys and icons. Now you can add a little extra something to the 5000 texts that you are sending every month.
- Search and download the free app “spell number – get emoji, smiley”.
- Next, open the app, and type in 91929394.59 and hit return.
- Close the app
- Go into settings –> general –>international –> keyboard
- Scroll to Japanese and turn on emoji
- Close everything, then go into text messaging. You should see the globe in the bottom left. Click and enjoy all the new smileys!
How to stay virus free in 2010
For as long as there have been computers, there have computer viruses. They range from minor annoyances to complete system killers and infecting your computer is as simple as connecting to the internet. Fear not! I’m going to show you how to remain virus free, but I’m going to give you some tips on safe web browsing.
Where do viruses come from? A better question is where do they not come from. They can be literally anywhere. A less than reputable website, a downloadable file or maybe even from a friend. So what can you do to keep them off of your system?
Install and regularly update anti-virus software. This is the single most important thing that you can do. Without some sort of anti-virus protection you leave yourself completely exposed to infections. There are quite a few free options out there. AVG and Avira are great examples of this. Another must have free program is Malwarebytes.
Browse the internet with caution. Websites that look genuine can in fact be malicious copies of the site you think you are browsing. Most of these are looking to have you download something or type in your account information so that it can be sent away and used against you in some way. Another thing to be particularly wary of is pop-ups. These will often say things like “Your computer is at risk!” or “You have been infected”. No matter what it says, it’s most likely not a genuine notification. The important thing is to not click on these pop ups and never pay any untrusted website for virus removal or update fees. These scams make millions every year off of unsuspecting consumers.
With a little caution and up to date anti-virus you can keep your computer safe from infection and keep your personal information away from prying eyes.
Introducing the MCS Blog!
Thanks for stopping by! This is the first post on the Mobile Computer Solutions blog. Now considering that there are more blogs than interested readers on the internet, I will try to keep the posts here relevant and interesting if not useful. Check in often or subscribe via RSS to keep yourself up to date with out blog.
